Whether it is because we install Windows from scratch on the PC, or because we have bought a new computer, surely at some point we have found ourselves with a newly installed Windows . Although Microsoft includes a series of programs by default with its operating system, these are far from what we generally use on a daily basis. For this reason, today we are going to leave you with 6 essential programs that we should all install on our PC as soon as we have the operating system in our hands.
These programs are basic and essential for most users, both in Windows 10 and Windows 11. However, variety is the joy, and there will be users who prefer other alternatives (such as Firefox) instead of the recommended one (such as Chrome). Everyone is free to choose the program they like best, the important thing is to satisfy a need so that we can use the computer in the most comfortable way possible.
Google Chrome
The first of the programs that we are going to install is Google Chrome . This is the most widely used browser in the world, and it has everything necessary to allow us to browse the Internet quickly, comfortably, and safely. A perfect standard browser to replace Edge, Microsoft’s default browser, and have the Internet at our fingertips.
In addition to browsing the Internet, Chrome can also offer us other features, such as a password manager or a PDF viewer . Therefore, we will have three functions in one, ideal for not filling our PC with bloatware.
Alternative: Firefox .
Office
Word, Excel, PowerPoint … the essential office programs that cannot be missing from any computer. Microsoft Office is the office suite from the developer of Windows, a suite that comes with everything you need to be able to write all kinds of documents, spreadsheets or slide presentations, both for personal and professional use, and open any document that you have to read .
Download Office.
Alternative: LibreOffice .
Spotify
If you like music, another of the applications that cannot be missing from our computer is Spotify. This is the largest music platform on the entire network, with millions of songs that we can listen to for free over the Internet. And not just music, but Spotify is also betting big on podcasts , so this program, again, fulfills two needs in one.
Alternative: Amazon Music .
VLC
” The one with the cone ” is one of the best multimedia players that we can install on our computer. Not only is it a free and open source program, but it is also the one that will allow us to open any video that we download from the Internet without having to install codecs or configure anything else. An all-in-one multimedia player so that, once installed, we don’t need anything else.
Alternative: Media Player Classic .
PeaZip
As expected, a file compressor and decompressor could not be missing from our computer. Although Windows can open ZIP files without problems, if we want to work with other formats, such as RAR or 7Z, we will need a different program. PeaZip is a free and open source file compressor with which we will be able to open any format, and compress our data in ZIP, 7Zip, and other formats. A totally free program, open source, and based on 7-Zip that will not resist any format.
Alternative: 7-Zip.
Visual Studio Code
Windows Notepad falls short of many tasks. For this reason, another of the essential programs that we must install on the PC is a more complete text editor. And the best, right now, is Visual Studio Code . Whether it’s for programming, or simply for opening text or configuration files, this program will more than meet our expectations. An open source program, which comes from Microsoft, and that we can all use for free.
Alternative: Notepad++
